In this episode of the Finally Motivated Podcast, we sit down with Jonathan Marshall — children’s author, creative, academic advisor, former social worker, and a deeply thoughtful change-maker — to talk about the inner life of creators and entrepreneurs.

Jonathan opens up about his journey from poetry in the third grade to photography, social work, education, and finally authorship. Through each path, one theme stayed the same: his desire to see the potential in others and help them discover it for themselves.

We explore:

• The loneliness many entrepreneurs and creators experience

• The struggle of being “seen” and the search for belonging

• How his social work background taught him the power of trust, empathy, and strengths-based thinking

• The emotional world of artists — awe, doubt, vulnerability, and resilience

• Understanding your EntreMOTIV Type and what it reveals about your drive

• Why human connection is the foundation of sustainable entrepreneurship

• The power of protecting your “childlike imagination” while staying grounded

• Becoming the person you needed when you were younger

• The importance of being a “drop of water” and trusting the ripple effect

• Grief, family, fatherhood, and how his books help children process emotion

• Why most businesses fail—and what creators actually need to survive and thrive

Timestamps:

00:00 What It Feels Like to Create

00:42 Introducing Jonathan Marshall

01:18 The Artist’s Journey & Early Creative Roots

03:20 The Loneliness of Entrepreneurship

05:47 Vision, Buy-In & Belief

10:32 Integrity, Impact & Becoming the Solution You Needed

14:47 Lessons From Social Work & Strengths-Based Thinking

22:09 The Ripple Effect & Investing in People

26:59 Empathy, Connection & Why It Matters in Business

34:20 Creativity, Family & Purpose

45:12 The Artist’s Motivation & Struggles

52:21 Loss, Grief & Writing for Healing

1:01:12 Why Most Businesses Don’t Survive

1:07:40 Perspective, Practice & The Power of Being Seen

1:16:08 Maintaining Imagination in a Distracted World

1:25:30 Advice for Younger Creatives & Entrepreneurs

1:30:07 What Jonathan is Looking Forward To

1:33:10 Closing Reflections & How to Connect with Jonathan

Learn more about Jonathan’s books and work:

Wrote By Jon – https://wrotebyjon.com

🎧 Watch and subscribe for more real conversations about the journeys of entrepreneurs and why they do what they do—to help you get clarity and motivation on your own path:

Finally Motivated Podcast YouTube Playlist – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL…

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https://quiz.entremotiv.com/

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